Saturday is National Hunting and Fishing Day

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Sept. 21, 2012 – As the air turns cool and hunting seasons hover on the horizon in many states, it's an ideal time to come together and celebrate America's outdoor traditions. On Saturday, Sept. 22, National Hunting and Fishing Day events commemorating hunters, anglers and conservation will be taking place across the country to bring together sportsmen and honor the heritage they share. Ducks Unlimited is proud to be one of the sponsors of NHF Day 2012.

NHF Day continues to grow and reach new outdoorsmen and women each year with the continued support of generous sponsors like DU. Through licenses, permits and special taxes, hunters and anglers generate $100,000 every 30 minutes—totaling more than $1.75 billion each year—for fish, wildlife and habitat. No one contributes more for conservation.

Founded and fostered by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) in 1971, NHF Day supports Wonders of Wildlife's educational initiatives to help the American public understand the indelible relationship shared by hunting, angling, healthy habitat and wildlife and fisheries conservation. Ducks Unlimited and other NHF Day sponsors stand behind these efforts.

"Ducks Unlimited is committed to conserving critical waterfowl habitat across North America, and the success of this mission would not be possible without DU's dedicated base of more than 1 million volunteers, members and other supporters, the vast majority of whom are hunters, anglers and outdoorsmen," said DU CEO Dale Hall. "We are honored to support National Hunting and Fishing Day and to commemorate the important contributions of sportsmen to America's economy and outdoor heritage."

Ducks Unlimited was built on the bedrock of conserving wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. Established in 1937 by a small group of sportsmen with big dreams for the future of waterfowl populations and America's great outdoors, DU is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year with a host of special events, conservation projects and programs across the country, as well as sponsoring important events such as NHF Day.

"National Hunting and Fishing Day is thrilled to have Ducks Unlimited as a sponsor," said Misty Mitchell, director of conservation programs for Wonders of Wildlife. "They have proven themselves as strong advocates for conservation and their support for NHF Day reinforces these beliefs. We look forward to working with them in years to come."

Each year, National Hunting and Fishing Day organizers choose an honorary chairperson and this year. NASCAR Sprint Cup driver/owner Tony Stewart is serving in that capacity and will deliver the message of NHF Day.

As the driver of the No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Stewart has won 12 driving championships, including three Sprint Cup Series titles, in a career spanning more than three decades.

Stewart is a champion off the racetrack as much as he is on, and has been recognized for his philanthropic efforts via his Tony Stewart Foundation, which raises funds for distribution to three specific groups: chronically ill children, drivers injured in motorsports activities and organizations dedicated to the conservation of various animal species.

In 1972, Congress formalized NHF Day to remind the public that conservation depends on funding and leadership from hunters and anglers. Every president since Richard Nixon has issued official proclamations of support for the annual commemoration, now recognized as one of the most effective grassroots campaigns ever undertaken to promote traditional outdoor sports.

Along with DU, the growing list of sponsors for NHF Day 2012 includes Wonders of Wildlife, NSSF, Bass Pro Shops, Smith & Wesson, Sportsman's Channel, Realtree, GunBroker.com, Yamaha, Pope and Young Club, North American Media Group Inc. and the Izaak Walton League of America.

Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, DU is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, with special events, projects and promotions across the continent. Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 12 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. For more information on our work, visit www.ducks.org. Connect with us on our Facebook page at facebook.com/ducksunlimited, follow our tweets at twitter.com/ducksunlimited and watch DU videos at youtube.com/ducksunlimitedinc.